Gameroom magazine
Encyclopedia
GameRoom Magazine was an American magazine focusing on arcade games (pinball, jukebox and video games). It was founded in 1988 by Dave C. and Donna Cooper of New Albany, Indiana
, and was created to serve the growing market of coin-op
memorabilia collectors, hobbyists, and restorers. The first issue, dated January 1989, focused on jukebox
es. The magazine also covered other coin-operated playthings, such as pinball machines, slot machine
s, and gumball machine
s, in addition to related items such as carousel
s, gas station memorabilia, and antique ice cream scoops.
GameRoom was subsequently sold to Tim and Jacqueline Ferrante after the passing of Dave Cooper in September 1996. After relocating the magazine's homebase to Keyport, New Jersey
, the magazine grew to feature regular columnists, more pages, a website online, and a merchandise department.
Coverage of arcade video games increased in January 1997, and in 2001 GameRoom published The Arcade Video Game Price Guide, the world's first comprehensive pricing guide for arcade video games.
In late 2005, after nine years, the Ferrantes sold the magazine to Kevin Steele, best known as the creator of RetroBlast!
, a website focusing on the home arcade industry. The first issue under Steele's direction was the January 2006 issue. Under his ownership, GameRoom features increased content, usually around 64 pages an issue, and full color pages throughout the magazine.
Around November 17, 2010 a notice was posted to the magazine's website announcing the magazine was no longer economically feasible to produce and would cease publication immediately. The last issue produced was October 2010 - volume 22 number 10.
New Albany, Indiana
New Albany is a city in Floyd County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River opposite Louisville, Kentucky. In 1900, 20,628 people lived in New Albany; in 1910, 20,629; in 1920, 22,992; and in 1940, 25,414. The population was 36,372 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of...
, and was created to serve the growing market of coin-op
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
memorabilia collectors, hobbyists, and restorers. The first issue, dated January 1989, focused on jukebox
Jukebox
A jukebox is a partially automated music-playing device, usually a coin-operated machine, that will play a patron's selection from self-contained media...
es. The magazine also covered other coin-operated playthings, such as pinball machines, slot machine
Slot machine
A slot machine , informally fruit machine , the slots , poker machine or "pokies" or simply slot is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed...
s, and gumball machine
Gumball machine
A gumball machine is a toy or commercial device, a type of bulk vending machine, which dispenses gumballs, usually for a small fee.Originally one penny, the standard cost of one gumball in the United States is now one quarter.-History:...
s, in addition to related items such as carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
s, gas station memorabilia, and antique ice cream scoops.
History
In 1993 GameRoom absorbed a competing periodical, The Pinball Trader. To serve this market, GameRoom increased its pinball machine coverage.GameRoom was subsequently sold to Tim and Jacqueline Ferrante after the passing of Dave Cooper in September 1996. After relocating the magazine's homebase to Keyport, New Jersey
Keyport, New Jersey
Keyport is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,240. Keyport's nickname is the "Pearl of the Bayshore" or the "Gateway to the Bayshore"....
, the magazine grew to feature regular columnists, more pages, a website online, and a merchandise department.
Coverage of arcade video games increased in January 1997, and in 2001 GameRoom published The Arcade Video Game Price Guide, the world's first comprehensive pricing guide for arcade video games.
In late 2005, after nine years, the Ferrantes sold the magazine to Kevin Steele, best known as the creator of RetroBlast!
RetroBlast!
RetroBlast! is a website that provides news, reviews and editorial articles related to retro gaming and home game-rooms.Created by Kevin Steele, it initially went live on July 10 2003...
, a website focusing on the home arcade industry. The first issue under Steele's direction was the January 2006 issue. Under his ownership, GameRoom features increased content, usually around 64 pages an issue, and full color pages throughout the magazine.
Around November 17, 2010 a notice was posted to the magazine's website announcing the magazine was no longer economically feasible to produce and would cease publication immediately. The last issue produced was October 2010 - volume 22 number 10.